Chips Be Gone: Mastering the Art of the Long-Lasting Mani

No one likes a peeling paint job.

Whipping up a fresh, glossy manicure is fun, right? Dealing with cracks, chips, and the general decline of all that hard work two days later? Mmm, yeah, not so much. Whether you took the time to DIY your own lacquer look or went to your favorite salon, you should be able to enjoy it for at least a school week. So instead of falling prey to these polish perils, let's take matters—quite literally—into our own hands. These tricks will help make your mani hold tight.

Create a sticky foundation

The base coat is definitely the most neglected of the manicure steps, but that's got to change. It creates a smooth, even surface, and if you use the right one, it can act like glue too. Yep, there are base coats that dry to a sticky finish so your polish color actually adheres to them! Give Orly Nail Bonder a go or try the CND Sticky Base Coat.

Tap your fingertips with a purpose

If you've ever baked a pan of brownies and lightly tapped the pan on the counter before popping it into the oven to release air bubbles, you already know this trick. The same idea works for your manicure. Give your fingers a tap against a solid surface while your polish is still wet to get rid of bubbles that can easily lead to cracks and chips. If you're dealing with a particularly resilient pocket of air, poke it with a toothpick and add one more coat.

Use pro-approved products

Nail artists who make it their life's work to create incredible mini masterpieces have tried everything available to seal their looks, so their opinions are worth their weight in gold. When picking a clear coat to finish off your own manicure, try one that's always in their kits. Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat and JinSoon Top Gloss make the cut.

It's all about the tip

Most manis start chipping from the tips of your nails, so when painting on your top coat, drag the lacquer up and over the edge.

The best manis are never just one-and-done

Two days after your polish is first applied, add an additional top coat to your nails. Then keep adding a thin layer of clear every other day after that to make your shade really last.

Just look at this fresh polish perfection we spotted on Insta—doesn't it just make you cringe to think of it chipped 10 minutes from now?!